Traction-elevator.



E, L. GALE, Sn. TRACTION ELEVATOR.

"APPLICATION PILEDAPLSG; 1913. Patented 0ct.';6,;@1'914.

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WITNESSES INI/E/VTOI? E. L. G'ALE. Sn. 7 x ramrmu ELEVATOR. v Annotation nun APB. is, 1913. 1,112,785.

BY [P A m/a/ cq A TTURNEY Patented 0ct.6,1914

sratrns PAT NT OFFICE.

EnNEs'r'L. GALE, SR.;"QF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR T OTIS ELEVATOR com- ,rm, Oil-JERSEY crrY, NEW JERSEY,'A coBPonATIoN or new JERSEY.

TRacTIon-nLEvAToR;

Specifieation of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Application filed April 26, 1913. serial No. 763,713.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERN'Es'r GALE, Sr,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Yonkers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Traction-Elevators, ofwhich the following is a specifica-' 1 11011. j a e ;j My invention relates to brake apparatus,

more particularly designated and described gS-Ebrake apparatus for traction elevators, erl'il' application to any brake apparatus which 15 used in connecti'on with an electric motori One ofthe objects of my invention is to provide means whereby the brakewill not be released until allthe armature connections are established" with the main lines.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby a light initial brake is applied 119011 the operation of the car switch and t efull power of the brake is retarded for subsequent application.

A further object is to provide means whereby the lifting coil o'f-the brake magnet acts as a discharge coil thereby effecting an initial light application of the brake under certain conditions. A still further object is'to provide brake apparatus of this character which shall be economical in operation, consuming a nimmum ofpower both in lifting the brake and in holding the same in its lifted position.

For the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, my invention consists in the features of novelty in combination and arrangement of the several'parts hereinafter more completely described and claimed in the appended claims.

- The accompanying drawings show a diagra'mniatic arrangement of my invention as may have a-much wider and more genand main line switch 1, the motor M is connected through reversing switches .R and R, potential switch P,

S to the mains, desigf The main-starting resist ance X is controlled by the accelerating mag-v nated 1+ and net A; the auxiliary starting resistance N and the b -pass resistance BI have functions whic 1 will be subsequently set forth. The shunt field SF, fast speed magnet F, as well as the car safety switch G, and the slack cable switch H, are devices well known in the elevator art. The operation of the ap'-.

'paratus ismanually controlledby means of the car switch K; numerous limit Switches 1' are provided to effect the openin 'of the various clrcuits and thus automatically to protect the apparatus incase ofifailui'e of 5 or inattcntion to the manual means. The

magnetic blow out devices 0 which protect the electrical contacts from'the' dangers incident to arcing, are also shown.-

The action of my brake apparatus will be best.- undcrstood by describing the operation of the brake in connection with the, embodiment diagraininatically shown in the drawing. As soon as the main line switch S is closed. a circuit is closed throu h the minimum shunt field current magnet E, shunt field winding SF and the shunt field resistance 32. Thereafter, upon the operation of ciihor reversing switch, the fast speed magnet is energized, thereby short-circuiting the shunt field resistance and allowing the field winding to receive full field current. When the contact strip 10 of the car switch K is moved in the up directiom-it first makes connection with the contact 11 which is connected bymeans of conductor 25-150 the negative main lead 23. A circuit is closed through the reversing switch coil 26 as soon as the contactstrip 10 makes electrical connection with the contact 12,'thc1'eby raising the reversingswitch R to contact with its upper contacts: this closes a motor circuitfrom the main lead 24:, through the reversing switches R and It, auxiliary starting resistance N. the motor M and the by-pass resistance BI in parallel, lower contacts of reversingswitch Rf, main startingresistance X to the other main load 23. When this motor circuit is established, the difference of potential acrcss' the main starting resistance X is suflicicnt operat-ivcly to energize the magnet coil 35 of the brake B, which is connected across the resistance, thereby releasing the brake:

and joining the contacts 37. Joining these contacts 37 closes acircuit through the holding coil=36 of the brake B and one terminal of this holding coil is connected to the conductor 38 by the conductor 39,, the other to the main lead 24 by the conductors 40 and 41. In other words the holding'coil 36 is connectedaround the auxiliary starting resistarrce and the armature of motor in of the corresponding contact switches 42 43, 44, 45'. The opening of these last named switches inserts resistance in and finally opens the by-pass circuit-which is in parallel with the motor armatureyand' the closure of-the last named switch 45 causes a circuit to be closed through theaccelerating magnet A which is thereafter operative automatically to short-circuit porthe well known manner.

tions of the main. starting resistance K, in

To further increase the speed ofthe motor M, the contact strip 10 of the car switch K is moved .to connect'with contact 16, thereby deenergizing the'fast speed magnet F by short circuiting it, andl-causin the resistance 32 to of the brake B. The car safety switch G is weaken the field current.

shunt field circuit to be inserted i i the The limit switches 1, 2, 3', 4, 5, are ordinarily located in the elevator hatchway and are so adapted and placed. as to beoperated inthe manner named upon the up. travel of the elevator car. .Similarly, the limit switches 1, 2, 3,-4', 5"are forthe down travel of the car. It will be noticed that the operation of the limit switch 5 or 5 opens the circuit through the brakeholdingmagnet winding 36 and causes the application an emergency switch in the car for the con- -venience of the car operator, and the safety switch H is commonly termed the slack cable switch. Additional limit switches L and L are provided with contacts which close a' circuit through the holding coil 34 of the potential switch P. The contacts of the minimum field current magnet E are separated if, for any reason, the current through the magnet winding is not of sufficient strength operatively to energize the magnet, and the circuit through the potential switch holding coil 34, is thereupon broken, effecting the opening 'of the potential switch P.

Whenever the potential switch Pis'open'ed, the contact 47 controlled thereby, connects the contacts 48 and closes a local or armature circuit by means of the conductors 49 and 50- and a portion of the by-pass resistance 'BP through the armature of the motor M.- This" circuit causes a strong electro-dynamic brakthereby aiding the brake B in bringing the moving apparatus more quickly to a standstill. The brake B is applied as soon-as the circuit throu h the holding coil 36 is broken;

the brake 1' ing winding 35 which is con-- nectedto the terminals of the main starting resistance X, being short-circuited when the said resistance X is all cut out.

It'must also-be noted that the operation of the car switch K controls the application of the brake B; each time the hand lever 7 of the car switch is returned from an operating position to the central or stop position, the accelerating magnet A is deonergized and the brake holdingcoil 36 receives current from the .main leads 23 and 24, through the main starting resistance X. This current is not suflicient to hold the brake in-its raised position, therebyallowing first a light-application of the brake B and'then a full automatic application as soon as the contacts 37 are separated. One

of the objects of thisretarding action is to prevent the sudden application of the'brake B, which is both injurious to the apparatus 'and unpleasant for occupants of the elevator car. The discharge connection of the lifting coil 35 is economical because the lifting .coil does not consume power when the motor M is running. Another feature is that the brake is absolutely positive in action as 1t does not depend upon any extra switches or contacts, having a fixed connection to the terminals of the main starting resistance X. The automatic application of the brake is shown thus; if a movement of the car of only a short distance is desired, the brake magnet is highly excited by the encrgiZa-ti'on of both the lifting and the holding coils, and it requires time to discharge the brake magnet when stopping, applying the brake initially very lightly with a retarded full application. \Vhen. however, the lnfitur is running full speed, there is a minimum excitation of the brake magnet since only the holding coil 36 is energized, allowing an increased initial application of the brake when stopping, and a retarded full application. In this way the application ofl'he brake is automatically regulated in accordan e with the speed of the motor, the braking eli'est being stronger when the speed is increased.

For the downward operation, the car switch hand lever 7 must be turned in the down direction which will cause the op-.

.eration of the reversin switch It and the subsequent operation of the short circuiting switches and the accelerating magnet in a way similar to the operation previously described. The action of the brake B will also be similar to that already described, so it is not deemed necessary to enter into a de tailed description of the circuits and the operation in the down direction.

Fig.2 shows the arrangement of my brake apparatus in conjunction with a traction elevator installation comprising a car C, a. counterweight \V, apparatus for moving the car, and the switch K in the car to control the operation of the motor M and the brake B. The various switches and connections are similar to those shown by ig. l .and previously described in detail various safety appliances'are omitted for clearness. The

.special features which make my brake apparatus especially adaptable to elevator service, may be stated as follows: It is impossible to release the brake until all the armature connections are established with main lines, thus preventing the elevator car or the motor from slipping before the motor is started in the desired directionthat is, the armature connections must be completely made before the brake is released; another feature. is that the brake is automatically ap lied first very lightly, with a retarded full application, and the action of the brake is automatic in accordance with a large or small movement of the elevator car as previously explained. These features are pecially desirable in elevator apparatus to enable the operator more accurately to stop the elerz or car at any floor.

A modnication of the brake winding connections of Fig. 2 is shown by Fig. 3, in which the resistance 51 is inserted in series with the brake lifting winding 35, and the contacts 52, 53, 54, are so arranged as to short-circuit the resistance 51 when either reversing switch is operated. This gives greater latitude to the adjustment and operation of the brake. The contacts 52, 53 are joined by the closure of one reversing switch and the contacts 5%, 55 by the'closure-of. the other reversing switch. The operation of this device in place of the brake device of Fig. 2, maybe briefly set forth It is neces: sary that a reversing switch be closed before the brake is lifted, for the resistance will not permit enough current to flow in the winding ope'rat-ively to energize the said winding. \Vhen the potential switch is opened to effect the stopping of the motor since a reversing switch is closed, the resist-- ance 51 is short-circuited and the brake is applied with full pressure.

The minimum field current magnet E prevents the closure of the potential switch P unless the shunt field SF is properly excited.

One of the special features of my inventionis that the brake will not be released until all the motor connections are made, which prevents any movement of the apparatus until the motor receives an impulse in the proper and intended direction. The fixed connection of the lifting coil of the brake magnet makes the brake positive in action as soon as the motor receives starting current.

Although my invention has been described as controlled by the car switch in an electric elevator system, it is to be understood that a much more general application of my brake controlling device may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. I

i wish therefore not to be limited to the exct construction and combination as herein disclosed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In brake apparatus, the combination of a brake lifting electromagnet, a brake hold ing magnet, means controlled by the brake to complete a circuit for the brake holding magnet, and means for short-circuiting the lifting magnet winding after the circuit for the holding magnet is completed.

Tn brake apparatus, the combination with a brake, of a brake lifting magnet, a brake holding magnet, and means for con- 11 cting the said magnets in series during the lifting of the brake.

3. In brake apparatus, the combination of a brake lifting magnet coil, a brake holding magnet coil, means for connecting the said magnet coils in series during the lifting of the brake, and means for short circuiting the lifting coil after the brake is lifted.

The combination with an electric motor, of main starting resistance therefor, an electro-responsivc brake having a brake litting winding with terminals attached to the two ends of the main starting resistance, and additional electromesporisive means for holding the brake in its lifted position and dependent for its energization upon the lifting of the brake.

5. The combination with an electric motor, of main starting resistance therefor, an electro-responsive brake having a brake lifting winding with terminals attached to the two ends of the main. starting resistance, and means brought into operation positively by the lifting of the brake for automatically holding the brake in its lifted osition.

6. The combination with an electric motor, of main starting resistance therefor, an electro-respmisive brake-having a brake lifting winding with terminals attached to the two ends of the main starting resie' ance, and an additional brake magnet winding for holding the brake in its raised position and dependent for its energization upon the lifting of the brake.

7. In brake apparatus, the combination of an electro-magnetic brake having a brake lifting magnet winding, a brake holding magnet winding, and means for automati- (ally establishing a circuit for the latter winding after the brake has been raised.

8. The combination with an electric motor, of a' main starting resistance therefor, an electro-magnetic brake having a brake lifting ing resistance, a brake holding winding,-

means for establishing a circuit for the latter, as soon as the brake is lifted, and means for short-circuiting the brake lifting winding.

10. The combination with an electricmotor, of a main starting resistance therefor, an electro-magnetic brake comprising a brake lifting magnet winding'with its terminals attached to the two ends of the main starting resistance, a brake holding magnet winding, means dependent upon the release of the brake for energizing the last named magnet winding, and means for automatically short-circuiting the main starting resistance. '11. The combination with an electric motor, of a main starting resistance therefor, an electro-magnetic brake comprising a brake lifting magnet winding with its lZBI", minals attached to the two ends of the main starting resistance, a brake holding magnet winding, and electrical contacts closed when the brakei's released or lifted,'operative to close a circuit through the brake holding magnet winding.

12. The combination with an electric motor, of a main starting resistance therefor, an electro-magnetic brake comprising a brake lifting magnet winding with its terminals attached to the two ends of the main starting resistance, a brake holding magnet windin means for short-circuiting the brake lifting magnet winding, and means for energizing the. brake holding magnet winding beforethe other winding is shortcircuited.

13. The electric combination with an motor, of a main starting resistance therefor, 1 an, electric magnetic brake comprising a brake lift ng magnet winding with its terininals attached to the two ends of the main starting resistance, a brake holding magnet windin means for short circuitmg a the brake lifting magnet winding, and

.means for energizing the brake holding magnet winding before the other winding is short-circuited, and after the brake is lifted.

14. The combination with an electric motor, of main starting resistance therefor,

an electro-rnagnetic brake comprising, a

' bra re lifting magnet winding connected around the starting resistance, a brake holding magnet winding, means for auto-' matically short-circuiting the starting resistance, and means for automatically clos ing a circuit through the brake holding magnet winding before the starting resistance is short-circuited. I

15. The combination with an electricmotor, of a main starting resistance therefor, auxiliary starting resistance, a magnet with two windings, one of the windings being connected to be energized only after a circuit is completed through the motor armature and the two resistances, and means dependent upon the energization of the first winding for subsequently closing a circuit through the second winding.

16. The combination with an electric motor, of a main starting resistance therefor, auxiliary starting resistance, an electro-responsive brake comprisin two magnet windings, connections for effecting the energization of one of the windings only after a circuit has been completed through the motor armature and the two said resistances, and means for effecting the energizing of the other winding after first winding has been energized.

17. The combination with an electric motor, of a main starting resistance therefor,

auxiliary starting resistance, an electro-responsive brake comprising two magnet windings, means for com rec ting one Winding to the terminals of the main starting resistance, and means for connecting the other winding around the auxiliary starting resistance, and the motor armature winding.

18. T he combination with an electric motor, of a main starting resistance therefor, auxiliary starting resistance, an electro-responsive brake comprising two magnet winding s, connections for oining the termi-' nals of one winding to the terminals of the main starting resistance, and means for automatically connecting the second magnet winding .to receive the potential applied to the motor armature and to the auxiliary "starting resistance.

1" 19. The combination with an electric motor, auxiliary starting resistance, an electroresponsive brake comprising a brake lifting magnet winding, means for causing the said winding to be energized only after the motor armature connections are completely made, means for automatically short-circuiting the net winding, means for automatically energizing the brake holding magnet winding after the first named winding is energized and before the first named winding is short circuited, the brake holding magnet winding being connected in parallel with the motor armature winding and the auxil ary starting resistance regardless of the direction of rotation of the motor armature.

2G. The combination with an electric mosaid winding, a brake holding magbrake until an energizing circuit, is closed through the motor armature, and means for lightly applying the brake initially independently of the speed of the motor and retarding the full application thereof.

21. The-combination with an electric inotor, an electro-responsive brake comprising two separate windings, circuits and connections for such parts for automatically energizing the brake magnet by means of both windings when current is applied to the motor for a short time only and a switch in circuit with one of said windings and controlled by the brake.

22. The combination with a motor, of

main starting resistance, auxiliary starting resistance, reversing switches for changing the direction of rotation of the motor,.a brake comprising brake lifting magnet winding, a brake holding magnet winding, the brake being operativcly energized when current flows in the main starting resistance, and means for connecting, the brake holding magnet winding in parallel with the motor armature and the auxiliary starting resistance regardless of the direction of rotation of the motor armature.

23. The combination with a motor, of main and auxiliary starting resistance, current supply mains, a brake device comprising two magnet windings, means for connecting one of the windings to the terminals of the main starting resistance, and means for connecting the other winding to one of the said mains and to the terminals of the main starting resistance remote from the other current supply main after the first winding is operated to lift the brake, thereby holding the brake in its released position.

2-1. The combination with a motor, of main and auxiliary starting resistance, current supply mains, a brake device comprising two magnet windings, means for connecting one of the windings to the terminals of the main starting resistance, means for connecting the other winding to one of the said mains and to the terminal of the main starting resistance remote from the other current supply main, thereby holding the brake in its 1" matic: iy opening the connections for the last named winding to apply the brake.

25. The combination of a motor, starting resistance therefor, reversing switches, a minimum shunt field current magnet in the motor shunt field-circuit, an electro-responsive brake device comprising a brake magnet provided with a brake releasing magnet winding and a brake holding magnet winding, and means preventing the brake magnet from being energized until a prescribed current flows through the minimum shunt field magnet winding and through the said starting resistance.

26. In electric elevator apparatus, the combination with a motor, a brake apparatus comprising a brake lifting magnet wind ing, a brake holding magnet winding, means for preventing the release of the brake until current flows in the motor armature, means for automatically effecting the energization of the brake holding winding, and limit switches operative to open the circuit through the brake holding winding to apply the brake.

27. In electric elevator apparatus, the combination with a motor, brake apparatus comprising a brake lifting magnet winding, a brake holding magnet winding, a controller switch and means independent of the speed of the motor for lightly applying the brake upon the return of the car switch to central position with the full power of the brake automatically retarded.

28. In electric elevator apparatus, the combination with a car and a counterweight, of a motor, a controller switch in the car, brake apparatus comprising a brake releasing magnet winding, a'brake holding magnet winding, and means independent of the motor speed whereby the brake is first applied lightly to arrest the motion of the car with the full power of the brake'retarded' In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST L. GALE, SR.

Witnesses:

GEORGE D. RosE, EDWARD H. STEELE.

Nd position, and means for auto 

